Greetings. Youngblood here with Russo at home wondering why he ever left Florida for Minnesota.
OK, it's not like a huge revelation, but Wild coach Todd Richards all but said Niklas Backstrom and Jose Theodore are splitting time in goal at this point. He got into the subject after saying after practice today that he hadn't decided on a starter for Thursday's game against Ottawa yet.
Here's Richards: "Right now we take it game-by-game. If one of them steps to the forefront and can run with the ball, that's what we'll do. Theo's been pretty good, as far as consistency. Back had a really good game against Phoenix. ... He's strung together a couple good ones. WE didn't help him out a lot in Anaheim. he also needed to be sharper."
Backstrom allowed as he'd had a couple difficult games, but said, overall, he's off to the best start of his career.
Some other items:
--Matt Cullen and John Madden both did some skating before practice. Madden felt good enough to stay on the ice for the early part of team practice. Richards said both are still day-to-day, Cullen with a groin pull and Madden with an upper-body injury. Richards said he didn't know if either would be available Thursday.
--Wild draft pick Jason Zucker, a forward for Denver University, was named WCHA freshman of the week for the second straight week after getting two goals and an assist in the Pioneers' weekend series with Alaska-Anchorage.
--The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams fun will visit with Minnesota military families tomorrow night. This is according to Defending the Blue Line, a local non-profit organization created by soldiers with the goal of keeping hockey alive for the children of military members. Earlier this year the NHLPA's fund donated 100 new sets of hockey equipment to Defending the Blue Line. NHLPA members George Parros of the Anaheim Ducks and Brent Burns helped coordinate the equipment donation.
